Pharaoh Ants Bites and Treatments

How Serious Are Pharaoh Ant Bites?

The bite is not the problem. These ants rarely bite, and it is mild when they do. The real risk is where they walk, which worries hospitals and clinics most.

Do Pharaoh Ants Bite or Sting?

For practical purposes, no. Pharaoh ants are tiny and not aggressive, and they very rarely bite people. When one does, most people barely feel it. If an ant in Florida gave you a burning sting that became a white pustule within a day, that was almost certainly a fire ant.

The real health concern is contamination. Workers walk through drains, trash and dead insects, then across counters and food. Studies in hospitals have found them carrying bacteria such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, and their attraction to moisture is why they are a particular worry around patients, wound dressings and sterile supplies.

At home:

• Throw out food the ants got into, especially open sugary or greasy items.
• Wash dishes, counters and pet bowls they have trailed across with soap and water.
• Keep wounds covered and dressings clean if anyone in the home is recovering from surgery or is bedridden.
• Ants in a pet’s food bowl are not poisonous to the pet, but replace the food.

For any ant bite, wash with soap and water and use a cold compress. See a doctor if the spot looks infected, with spreading redness, warmth or pus. Get emergency care for hives, facial swelling or trouble breathing after any ant sting. Learn about other species on our ants page.